Current instructor

Aaron Ragsdale

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.25/5 from 8 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

Bio152 · course not matched
Quality 3/5Difficulty 2/5
Although Ragsdale was very awkward and uncomfortable lecturing in front of such a large group of students, he did a pretty good job of communicating information effectively and making it engaging. Evolution was an easy unit, and as long as you understood concepts, the exam was fine. No major complaints; he was a pretty average professor.
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Bio152 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
He's so enthusiastic and great!
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ZOOLOGY 415
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Prof. Ragsdale is a great professor. He is easy to reach both in lecture and during office hours. His readings for the course were interesting and relevant. All of the material was very well organized. While the grading took a bit longer than normal, that seems like it would done by the TA and not him. Overall, I would highly recommend!
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Bio152 · course not matched
Quality 2/5Difficulty 3/5
The only professor I ever had that was nervous when giving a lecture. He often mumbles, blushes on stage and get nervous, and does not give clear definitions. He will give unclear answers, which is concerning since he is teaching evolution, which does require definitions for terms to be precise and not ambiguous. Get ready to teach yourself.
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Bio152 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
I have nothing but good things to say about Professor Ragsdale. He truly cares about the success of his students and shows this by providing clear grading criteria and easily accessible (relevant!) practice quizzes.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Aaron Ragsdale

Directed Studies in Zoology offers directed study or independent research where students experience hypothesis development and research through faculty mentorship.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 3.67 GPA, 66.7% A/AB (n=3 letter grades).

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Spring 2026 · limited sample

Explores how genetic differences reveal human evolutionary and demographic history, and how history shapes genetic diversity. Covers disease risks, ancestry kits, and limits of genomics for describing race.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Aaron Ragsdale

Aaron Ragsdale organized material well and made readings interesting and relevant. He was easy to reach during lectures and office hours, and students described the assignments as small. One student noted grading took longer than normal, attributing that delay to the TA rather than the professor.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Spring 2026

Directed Studies in Zoology consists of selected research projects for juniors and seniors.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Advanced research in biology as part of graduate program requirements, arranged with mentoring faculty.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

No recorded grade history

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2027ZOOLOGY 299Directed Studies in Zoology
Spring 2027ZOOLOGY 415Genetics of Human History
Spring 2027ZOOLOGY 699Directed Studies in Zoology
Spring 2027ZOOLOGY 990Research
Fall 2026ZOOLOGY 699Directed Studies in Zoology
Fall 2026ZOOLOGY 957Seminar-evolution
Fall 2026ZOOLOGY 990Research

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance
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